Nebraska remains one of the safer states in the country – in fact, it is ranked the 36th most dangerous state, meaning that only 14 states are safer. Still, no place is completely immune to crime (as much as we would like it to be) and incidents do happen all over the state.

The 10 most dangerous places in Nebraska are ranked based on the number of violent and nonviolent crimes in 2011-2013 as recorded by the FBI. Only cities with populations of more than 1000 were measured. For a complete breakdown of the methodology used, check out the source of this list at RoadSnacks.net.

1. Omaha
Omaha, NE, USA
flickr/Katrina J Houdek
We know what you're thinking - "The biggest city in the state is the most dangerous? Duh." But according to our source, it's actually rare for a state's largest city to also be its most crime-ridden. With a larger population, it would make sense that the per capita crime rate would go down. Not in Omaha, though. In the most dangerous place in Nebraska, your chance of being the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 173 and your chance of being the victim of a property crime is 1 in 22. Read more about Omaha, Nebraska.
2. Grand Island
Grand Island, NE, USA
By Calvin Beale - USDA photo at this website, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6884487
Would you believe that Grand Island ranks first in the state for property crimes? Violent crimes are much less common, but you've got a 1 in 21 chance of being the victim of a property crime. This town features some great natural areas. Check out Stolley Park in Grand Island.
3. Beatrice
Beatrice, NE 68310, USA
By Ammodramus - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18797620
We never would have expected Beatrice to make a list of the most dangerous places in Nebraska, but the city of 12,000 is ranked 6th in the state for property crime and 4th in the state for violent crime. Your chances of being the victim of a property crime here are 1 in 30. See more about Beatrice, Nebraska.
4. Lincoln
Lincoln, NE, USA
By Hanyou23 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43816441
Crime rates are actually on a downward trend in Lincoln, according to our data source. It's ranked 5th in the state in both property and violent crimes. In this city of 267,565, you've got a 1 in 28 chance of becoming a victim of a property crime. Find out more about Lincoln, Nebraska.
5. Scottsbluff
Scottsbluff, NE 69361, USA
By Bobak Ha'Eri - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12659253
Scottsbluff is ranked at number 2 in the state for property crimes and number 9 for violent crimes. You have a 1 in 20 chance of being a victim of a property crime here. This small town is actually full of charm if you know where to go, despite the crime rates. Read more about Scottsbluff, Nebraska.

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6. Hastings
Hastings, NE, USA
By Ammodramus - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22587592
Hastings is a city with just over 25,000 residents, and it's ranked 4th in the state for property crime. You've only got a 1 in 462 chance of being the victim of a violent crime, but a 1 in 30 chance of being the victim of a property crime. If you're in Hastings, make sure you check out the original places there are to go, like the Jacob Fisher Rainbow Fountain.
7. Crete
Crete, NE 68333, USA
By Ammodramus - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26486094
Violent crime rates are low in Crete, but you've got a 1 in 34 chance of being a victim of a property crime. Crete is full of unique places, however. Find out more about Crete, Nebraska.
8. Lexington
Lexington, NE 68850, USA
By Matthew Trump at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=13281773
Lexington ranks 12th in the state for property crimes and 10th in the state for violent crime. In a city of just over 10,000 residents, that gives you a 1 in 36 chance of being the victim of a crime, making it seem like a dangerous place to avoid in Nebraska. Check out more about Lexington, Nebraska.
9. Chadron
Chadron, NE 69337, USA
By Ammodramus - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16143981
Your chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Chadron are very low, but your chances of being the victim of a property crime are 1 in 31. There are plenty of great aspects of this town, however. Learn more about Chadron, Nebraska.
10. Valley
Valley, NE 68064, USA
By Ammodramus - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24781794
Can you believe that tiny Valley earned a spot on the list of dangerous places in Nebraska? It's thanks to the town's four violent crimes and 186 overall incidents of crime in 2013. These numbers are a bit disturbing for a town of less than 1900 people. Read more about Valley, Nebraska.

Don’t take this list to mean that these cities are bad places to be – every city has its good points and less-good points. Every one of these places is still worth a visit – maybe just be vigilant and aware of your surroundings to avoid any incidents.

On the flip side, take a look at the safest places and the happiest places to live in Nebraska.

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More to Explore

Most Dangerous Places in Nebraska

Danielle Schwartz | July 14, 2022

What are the safest cities in Nebraska?

Once you've learned about the most dangerous places in Nebraska, you might want to find out about the places you should live if you're thinking about moving to the state. If you want to take a vacation, you can also check out the safest cities in Nebraska. The city with the least amount of crime is Schuyler. It has less than 6,500 people, so it makes sense that the town's crime rates never rise too high. Seward is another excellent choice if you're looking for nice places to live and another place with nearly no crime.

What are the most scenic towns in Nebraska?

If you're hoping to see some picturesque sights, take a look at the most scenic towns in Nebraska for a sweet getaway any time of the year. For lovely architecture and classic old-fashioned charm, head to Chadron. There is also plenty of opportunity for outdoor activities here. Are you a fan of the arts? Make your way to McCook for a fun and culturally-rich day.

What are the richest towns in Nebraska?

Curiosity gets all of us, and if you've been wondering about which places in Nebraska house the people with the most money, we've made a list of the 10 richest cities in Nebraska. Because it's generally not too expensive to live in our state, you don't need to be wealthy to live here, but these places will probably cost a bit more. Elkhorn is the richest city in Nebraska, with an average income of over $71,000, and the second richest city is Papillion, where the average household still brings in over $70,000.

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